Store service apparatus



Min ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. J. T. COWLEY.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 315,739. Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

WIT/V588 8 (N0 ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. COWLEY;

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. No. 315,739. Patented Apr. 14, 188 5.

IWI

N0 ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. T. COWLEY.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

. Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF BALTIMORE,

PATENT OFFICE.

MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO llIILTON cnanmon NEW YORK, n. Y.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

sPncIPIcArIoiv forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,739, dated April 14, 1885.

Application filed March 17, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J nuns T. CowLnY, of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store -Service Systems; and Ida hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention has for its obj ect in providing means at the ends of each track, first, for elevatin g the car at the salesmans end by a flexible medium and placing it upon a switch or side track, from which it descends, and is then caused to run upon or be transferred to the incline forwarding-track, traveling to its terminal by its own gravity; secondly, in means for receiving the car on its arrival at the cashiers end of the same track by a combined llgld and flexible drop or lowering device of yarying diameter; thirdly, in means for holdlng the car after it is detached and beforeits return at the cashiers end of the return-track, which track is inclined toward the salesmans station. This retaining device may either be rlgid or flexible, the car remaining in position until released and started down the return track to the salesmans; fourthly, in means at the salesmans end of the return-track for recelving the car upon rigid or flexible drop or lowering mechanism of varying diameter, my said invention being thus distinguished from store-service systems which have one main forwarding-track for a number of salesinens stations, and one main return-track for the same number of salesmens stations; and it is also distinguished from the arrestingstops and restorers patented to Clark and Cowley, and from the aerial railways heretofore well known. I therefore desire to limit my invention to the novelty and difference existing between the various means above enumerated and the system and construction of parts, substantially shown.

My invention consists, first, in arranging two wire tracks inclined in opposite directions. Each saleslnans station in the store service system for these tracks is provided with receiving, restoring, and retaining brackets at the ends of each track. Said brackets are also provided with means for operating the drop mechanism.

The invention further consists in the novel construction of the receiving and restoring mechanism, and in the peculiar arrangement of the brackets with relation to each other and the supports, and with the cars and the automatic mechanism for preparing the restoringdrop for the reception of the car, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings hereto annexed for the better illustration of my invention, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my improved sys tem as applied to a single station and cash iers desk; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the system applied,clearly showing the switch-brackets which throw the car from the rear of the support to the front. In considering Fig. 1, let it be remembered that the two inclined ways are substantially on the same vertical plane, except immediately over the brackets, hence only one set is seen in the plan. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the variable-sized re storing device at the cashiers end. Fig. 4 is the variable-sized restoring device at the salesmans end, one portion being attached to the supporting-post and the other passing over a pulley in a bracket extending from said post, and secured thereto above the forwarding-line. Fig. 5 shows the salesmans receiving end of the wireway, which is in close proximity to the restorer, so that the salesman can readily detach the car out of the way of the next incoming car. \Vhen the car is loaded, it can be readily hung on the restorer, which is always in readiness for its reception, by means of the weight automatically pulling it down after the car is delivered to switch and track. Fig. 6 shows the retaining device to be used at the cashiers end when it is desired to retain the car for any purpose, and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the restoring switch-post and bracket. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the car I propose to use in connection with my storeservice system; and Fig. 9 is an end view, partly in section and partly in elevation,which 5 H at the cashiers station. The car is then uncannot leave it.

As illustrated in the drawings, the two tracks A and B are shown as converging toward each other at one end, preferably the cashiers end 0. These tracks are the same as shown in Knights mechanical dictionary; but in my invention thetwo tracks are supported at their ends by the above-described brackets a Z, and form a connection to and receive the rigid or flexible drop-receiver D and restorer E, the operation being as follows: The restorer E, at the salesmans end of the forwarding-track, is always kept down within an easy reach of the sales person by a weight, a, and pulley d. The

sales person makes a sale, and places the goods 7 and money in the car E. The car is then placed upon the restorer. The operator then pulls down on the loose end f of the restorer, the car travels up the flexible restorer and passes off onto the side switch-track, G, thence onto the forwarding-track A, to the receiver loaded, the goods Wrapped, and change made, when the car is againloaded and ready to be returned. It is then taken by hand from its resting-place in the receiver H and placed upon the retainer I on the return-track. It is then gently pushed out of the retainer and travels down the return-track and into the receiver D, where it is lowered to within easy reach of the sales person. The car is then taken off from the receiver of the return-track. The

weighted handle 6 then carries the receiver up to place again. The car is then unloaded and placed in the restorer E, to remain until used again.

In the practical working of my new wireway system I find it preferable to use a cord or rope drop or elevator. One of the important features of the flexible drop or elevator is to provide means whereby the car cannot in any possible way jump off or leave the terminal brackets, or get off of the drop or elevator until taken off by hand. This is effectually provided for by using a rope that is very much larger at the end and fastened to the bracket and then tapering down to the resting portion. The car is so constructed as to be operated upon said drop so that it will be impossible for it to be taken off until it has nearly reached the smallest portion of the described for both receiver and restorer. It is'not so essential to have a flexible drop, as above described, at the cashiers end of the forwarding-track asat the salesmans end, as the weight always keeps it in place, while at the salesm'ans end the sales person is liable to misplace the drop or allow it to get caught on theshelves and counters, allows the recauses the car to fall if the rope drop is too small for it topass off. The degree of inclination necessary for the perfect traveling of the cars maybe determined by raising thebrackets up or down on the supporting-post, and when so determined the bracket is rigidly fixed to the post by means of the set-screw.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with the wireway, of a lowering and raising device pivotally fixed to the bracket, the flexible portion thereof being of varying diameter, the thicker portion to prevent the car from leaving the drop, while the thinner portion permits the removal thereof, substantially as described.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combi nation of a wireway, and a lowering and raising device, the flexible portion of which is of varying diameter, with a car attachment for retaining the car to the larger portion of said device, and to permit its removal from the smaller portion thereof, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a store'service apparatus, the combination, with the wireway, of asupport having an adjustable bracket to which the way is fixed, and a bracket extending in opposite direction from the way, in combination with the variable-sized flexible drop, substantially as described. 4. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of the double-incline ways with a sustaming-support having a lowering device on one side and an elevating device on the other side of said post, and with a switch for receiving the car and carrying it around to the track in front of said support, substantially as set forth and described.

5." A store-service apparatus consisting of wireways having flexible lowering and raising devices, the latter having a weight and a car on the flexible portion, whereby the weight will automatically lower the drop after the car has left it for the reception of the next car, substantially as described.

6. In a store-service apparatus, the carrying-wires arranged in pairs, inclined in opposite directions, but converging to the cashiers desk, said wires being rigidly fixed at each end and connected to brackets which are adj ustably secured to the sustainingposts, in combination with the drop mechanism to each wire for raising and lowering the cars, substantially as described. drop. I use the same flexible drop as above j 7. In a store-service apparatus, the carrying-wires arranged in pairs, each being inclined to carry a car in opposite directions, said wires being connected by brackets which are adjustably fixed to the sustaining-posts,

in combination with a car lowering and raising device, the flexible portion of said device being variable in diameter, substantially as set forth.

ceiver to become slack or loose, and thus 1 8. In combination with the forwarding and return wire tracks extending in pairs between the cashiers desk and a salesmans station, I In testimony that I claim the foregoing as the brackets, receivers, and restorers at the my ownI affix my signature in presence of two IO ends of each track, substantially as shown. witnesses.

9. The combination, in the store-service ap- 5 paratus, of the wire tracks rigidly fixed at each end, the flexible receivers, and flexible re- Witnesses: st0rers,with the side track or switch, and the i JoHN J. ENNIS, car or carrier, substantially as described. i SAML. N. JAYNE.

JAB. T. COWLEY. 

